Compressor-valve mechanism



L. J. CLAPP.

COMPRESSOR VALVE MECHANISM APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15, 1920 Patented Nov. i922.

MACHINERY C r r l i'iE'WIS 5'. CLAPP, OF Cl'gREMONT, ITEKV HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR T SULLIVAN ,lIPAlIlY, A CORPORATION OFIvIASSAGHUSETTS.

CCMPBEiZSOR-VALVE IvTECI-IA'NISM.

Application filed June 15, 1920. Serial No. 389,198:

1 '0 all iwm it may concern: 1 Be it known that l, LEWIS J., GLAPP, citizen of the United States, residing at Clarernont. in the county of Sullivan and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Compressor-Valve l riechunisins of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to compressor valve mechanisms and particulsrly to compressor valve mechanisms adapted for use in connection with unlosding mechdnisms.

Anohject of my invention is to provide an improved compressor valve construction. A further object of my invention is to provide an improved compressor valve mechanism comprising an improved compressor unloading mechanism. A still further object of my invention is to provide improved means for unloading a compressor. Other objects or" my invention will appear in the course of the following specification and claims.

In the .eccolnpanying drawings 1 have shown for purposes of illustrntion one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings,--

Fig. l is aside elevation of a compressor plant, parts or" the compressor cylinder be ing broken away to show details of construction.

Fig; .2. is an enlarged vertical section through an inlet valve and unloading mechenismcooperating therewith constituting the illustrative embodimentof my invention.

In the accompanying drawings l have shovvn thy-improved mechanism embodied in a compressor 1. having a. cylinder 2 and dischargin by means oi a discharge vulv'e chest 3 through a pipc l l to srcceiver 5. Air

is taken into the cylinder 2 of the compressor through it connection 6 opening into an inlet chamber 7 in which are suitably mounted inlet valve mechanisms of the type coir stitutin my invention, these generally-being designsted by 8. H

Each of the inlet valve rneehnnisrnscomprises a cage member 9 resided with suitable ports 10 to permit ini'low sir therethrough and provided on th upper surfaces thereof with a valve seat ll. Suitably suppoitcd within sud across the cone 1nem-- bars-$9 is member 12 'lvhich is provided With a flat seat 13 on the top thereof and which is centrally bored to provide a. guide 14;. Reciprocable in the guide is a stem 15 which is provided ut he bottom end thereof with a piston 16 whose upward move ment Within a cylinder [7 is opposed by a spring 17 disposed within the cylinder 17 and above the piston 16. The stem 15 is provided with a. shoulder 15 to limit its upward movement. Fluid is supplied to the cylinder 17 by a connection 18 with which a pilot valve 19 of well known construction cooperates, this pilot valve beiriq adapted upon a predetermined rise in pressure to permit the passuge of fluid by way of a connection 20 from the receiver 5 throu 'h the connection 18 and to the cylinders 14', and being adapted upon a predetermined dropin pressure thereafter to close said first menti'oned connection and place the cylinder 17 in communication with the atmosphere.

Secured to the top ch t he stem 15 is a second valve seat forming member 21 normally seating squarely upon the surface 13 but adapted to be moved therefrom upon upward movement of the piston 16. The 1 nemher 21 is provided with an upstanding unnular rim 22 adjacent its outside edge tcr minating in a horizontal ground surface 23 which lies in the same plane with the valve seat surface 11, An annular valve 2% normally seats upon the surfaces 11 and 23 and closes communication between the cylinder of the compressor and .the inlet space 7. A bowed sprin 25 is confined between the top of the valve member 24 and. a guard member 26 which serves both to place the spring 25 under compression and as a guide for the valve member 24 and the spring 25. The gua d member and the valve seat member 21 are held tothe sten115 and in fixed relation thereto by means of-u shoulder 27 upon the stern and a nut 28 and Wl l18lf 29 arranged at the upper extremity of the stem. The operiition or" this device as described is s follows:

' llpon a predetermined rise in pressure above the desired pressure, the pilot valve admits receiver pressure to the chamber 17 and the piston 16 is forced upwardly, raising the seat member 21 from its position upon the top of the member 13 and accordingly raising the valve member 2% 'also out of contactwith the seat member 11 and providing uninterrupted communication ,be-

between the cylinder bore and the inlet chamber 7. The compressor accordingly will simply bypass air from one side to the .the cylinder l 7 will be discontinued and the cylinder will be placed in communication with the exhaust. Thereupon the sprin 17' will force down the stem 15 and the piston 16 and will cause the member 21 to come to rest again upon the surface 13. The valve member 2- will seat smoothly upon both the surface 11 and the surface 23 and accordingly the inlet valves will again function for the admission of pressure to, but the prevention of its escape from, the cylinder. It will thus be seen that, in the illustrative form of my invention shown herein, 1 unload the compressor by moving one element of the valve seat out of alinement with the other member thereof and carry with the moving element of the valve seat the valve member in such a manner is to provide a free passage between the valve and stationary portion of the scat.

While I have in this application specifically described one form which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the inven tion may be modified and embodied in other forms Without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What Iclaim as new and desire by Letters Patent is:

LA compressor valve mechanism comprising a valve, and a valve seat having stationary and movable elements.

2. A compressor valve mechanisim com prising a valve and a valve seat having a plurality of elements with which said valve contacts when closed, and means for effecting a separation between said valve and one of said elements.

3. A. compressor valve mechanism com prising a valve and cooperating seat surfaces normally in contact therewith, one of said seat surfaces being movable out of its initial relation to the other.

4. In a compressor valve mechanism, a valve and multi-part port forming means with all of whose several parts said valve to secure contacts when closed, one of said parts being movable relative to another whereby said valve may contact with less than all of said several'parts and a flow passage be opened.

5. In acompressor valve mechanism, a valve and multi-part port forming means with all of whose several parts said valve 'contactswhen closed, one of said parts he- .ingmomble relative to another 1n a direction axially of said valve whereby said valve may contact with less than all of said several parts and a flow passage be opened.

6. A compressor valve mechanism comprisin a valve and cooperating seat surfaces normally in the same plane, one of said seat surfaces being movable out of said plane.

7. A compressor valve mechanism comprising a valve and a plurality of valve seat members adapted for telescopic movement.

8. A compressor valve mechanism comprising a valve and a seat therefor comprising concentrically arranged annular seat members, one of which is adapted for axial movement with respect to the other.

9. A; compressor unloading -mechanism comprising a valve, a seat therefor comprising a plurality of elements with which said valve normally contacts, and means responsive to variations in receiver pressure to effect a separation between said valve and one of said members and the other thereof.

10. In combination with a compressor, unloading 1nechanisn1 comprising receiver pressure responsive means, an inlet valve, a plural-part seat therefor, and a connection between said pressure responsive means and a portion of said seat for effecting opening of a space between said valve. and a portion of said seat. a

11. A compressor unloading mechanism comprising receiver pressure responsive means, an inlet valve, a plural part seat therefor, and a connection between said pressure responsive means and a portion of said seat for effecting an opening of said valve.

12. A compressor unloading mechanism comprising receiver pressure responsive means, an inlet valve, and a plural part seat therefor, said receiver pressure responsive means being operative to move a portion of said plural part seat out of its initial plane.

1.3; A compressor unloading mechanism comprising in combination a receiver pressure responsive means, an inlet valve, a seat therefor comprising concentrically arranged annular members normally having their valve contacting surfaces in a single plane, and means actuated by said receiver pressure r sponsive means operative to move one of said seat members to move said valve out of con-tact with the other thereof.

14. In a pump valve mechanism, a valve member, and a plurality of relatively mov- 'able elements cooperating therewith and all LEWIS J. CLAPP. 

